The Articles of Confederation-Acting As The First U.S. Constitution

Thirteen sovereign states, on July 2, 1776, agreed in principal to unite in a common cause. Two days later, on July 4, 1776, these independent and sovereign states finalize “the deal.” The United States of America comes into existence, but very precariously. Each of the thirteen states have willingly formed a union in a common defense against Great Britain. However, what if any legal obligations do the newly formed United States have to each other?

George Rogers Clark-Conqueror of the Old Northwest

No man conquered more territory for the United States than George Rogers Clark. Born in Virginia in 1752, Clark was a rugged frontiersman. At twenty-years old, Clark was a war veteran having fought in Lord Dunmore’s War of 1774. Dunmore was the last royal governor of Virginia. Dunmore wanted to punish the Indians for attacking white settlers in the western territories. Virginia had a claim on these territories. Clark, a militia captain, fought for Virginia’s claim to the lands of the Old Northwest.
By the time the American Revolution began in 1775, Clark had familiarized himself with the vast tract of wilderness land of the Old Northwest. For almost two years, he traveled and made observations and plans to conquer this land. This land was adjacent to the Ohio River Valley, in the states of Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Tennessee.
Clark was very concerned of the British attempt to stop the American migration westward. Clark realized the British garrisons of Vincennes, Detroit and Kaskaskia had to be conquered. In 1777, Clark proposed to patriot Governor Patrick Henry of Virginia, that he lead an expedition to capture the British garrisons. Governor Henry and the Virginia Legislature agreed with Clark. They sent him with public orders to protect Kentucky and secret orders to attack Kaskaskia and take Detroit if possible. These orders were so secret that even the United States Congress did not know of these plans. Promoted to major, Clark and his men marched from Virginia. Only Clark knew of the secret orders. They were headed for the Illinois territory and Kaskaskia.
At Detroit the British had their most western fort in America. From Detroit the British were able to control the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. They encouraged their Indian allies to wage war upon the American settlers. British Lt. Governor Henry Hamilton of Detroit had been buying scalps from the Indians. The blood thirsty Hamilton, known as the “Hair Buyer”, killed American settlers in the Old Northwest by the score. Clark was determined to put an end to this slaughter and gain the territory for Virginia and the United States.
Clark had a small army of 150 men. They were adventurers like him. Clark led them to an island camp near Louisville. The island camp was called Corn Island. Clark and his men camped at Corn Island for several months. During this time, a few reinforcements led by Simon Kenton, arrived from Kentucky. It was at Corn Island that Clark told his small army of his real intentions. They were going to wage war on the British outposts of Kaskaskia, Vincennes, and Detroit and also capture the settlement of Cahokia.
On June 23, 1778 Clark left Corn Island with 175 men. On the second anniversary of the founding of the United States, July 4, 1778, Clark captured Kaskaskia. He surprised the British commander who was in bed asleep. In less than fifteen minutes the Americans had secured the town. The Americans met no resistance. Not one shot was fired. The small American Army continued onward towards Cahokia. When Clark arrived in Cahokia, the subjugated French population was overjoyed with the prospects of joining the Americans. Incredibly for the French, the Americans were driving out their British masters. The people of Cahokia took an oath of allegiance to the United States. Many Frenchmen joined Clark’s little army.